Abstract

It is becoming clear that a new era of multilingualism has begun, if indeed the world was ever truly otherwise. This can be seen in the language(s) now being used in literature both internationally and in Quebec specifically. The province’s unique linguistic and cultural situation is reflected in the bi- and multilingual literature produced over the last century and a half. These works are increasingly open to the inclusion of languages other than French, particularly English. This poses a challenge for translators in English Canada, who must attempt to convey the linguistic alterity that is erased by the act of translation.
Drawing on Berman’s deforming tendencies and Sternberg’s methods for recording polylingual discourse in the novel, this thesis will examine the specific areas of concern when translating Quebec’s bi- and multilingual literature for an English Canadian audience and methods for creating a hybrid text, one possible solution to this challenge. Lazer Lederhendler’s translation of Tarmac by Nicolas Dickner will be analyzed as a potential model for translators. The thesis will then discuss possible translations for several bilingual passages taken from Jean-Simon DesRochers’ novel Le Sablier des solitudes. Though the novel is written primarily in French, many characters are bilingual and interact with anglophones; the thoughts and dialogue for one major character, a Texan, are recorded entirely in English. Translating this linguistic alterity for an English Canadian audience will require the use of each of Sternberg’s techniques. The translated excerpt will then be presented as a whole.